Sharing, Caring, Helping, Protection and Cooperation by Mindfulness and Right Understanding.

26 November 2015

Right Understanding ... Right Value ... Right Wisdom ...

Right Understanding ...Right Value ... Right Wisdom ...

QUESTION
: The meditation which we
traditionally understand is 'doing' ... do this and that, contemplate on this
and that, concentrate this and that on what you see, feel, hear, taste,
etc. But your method is primarily based
on 'abandoning' and placing central emphasis on the mind actions of 'abandoning'.

I used to do anapanasati meditation with the
intention of attaining nibanna. Because of this personal ambition, I practice
Vipassana Insight meditation which I believe, as per the teachings of Lord
Buddha. We were merely trying and
attempting to do actions without understanding the logic of abandoning.

Now I come to understand that we need to
practice insight meditation with the power of abandoning in mind and
contemplate on nothing but abandoning.
Then only we will be able to attain insight wisdom.

While practicing meditation, due to the
uncontrollable nature of our physical body, we might probably feel the pain
during meditation. That is natural. The most important issue here is that we
should not grasp those pains and develop attachment to it. Instead, we need to learn to abandon our
attachment to the pain.

In the past I gained nothing because I was
doing things in my habitual way. This was the reason why I touched on this pain
subject in the beginning of our conversation.

Sayadaw
: Traditionally we
place central emphasis on the actions of 'doing' such as doing and not doing,
doing this and that, achieving this and that as well as effects (results) such
as becoming this and that, not becoming this and that, understanding and not
understanding, etc. They are merely
created actions.

But in
reality, we only need to abandon those created actions, believes and change all
our actions to 'doing-only'.

Together with
your created actions, the action of placing central emphasis on those created
actions and grasping happen. That is the
reason why you need to do 'abandoning' in order to abandon your habit of
placing central emphasis on those created actions.

You need to
abandon all your created actions as well as placing central emphasis on those
created actions.

You need to
place central emphasis only on the right understanding. On top of practicing meditation and
contemplating on dhamma teachings, you also need to remember the truth of
'abandoning' in your mind as well as 'abandon placing central emphasis on those
created actions' in your mind. Learn to
do all your actions with that right understanding in your mind.

It is easier
to do created actions but difficult to do actions with right understanding in
your mind. Only when you do your actions
with right understanding in your mind, your actions will become
'doing-only'. You can apply this theory
not only on practicing meditation but also on all other actions.

Only when you
carry out actions with the right understanding of abandoning and non-grasping; centering
your attentions only on abandoning and non-grasping; experience without
grasping in mind ... you will not have any attachment or grasping on the
outcome.

Your
perception 'easy or difficult' can be considered as grasping. Your perception 'my teaching is deep' can
also be considered as grasping. Try to
'abandon all your grasping' and try to practice 'experience-only' from now
onwards.

The biggest
problem so far is when people fail to understand and recognise the problem as a
problem and thus not willing to find any solution to it. This can also be considered as the culprit of
series of other problems.

So long as
you have the right understanding in mind, all these created problems will no
longer be problems for you. By nature,
people only have capabilities to identify and solve created problems. This is the main reason why they fail to
identify and find solutions for the critical problems of mind.

Once you have
ability to understand and recognise the real problems as 'problems', it will
eventually be easier for others to have similar right understanding as you.

As long as
you have right understanding, as far as and as much as your understanding
permits, you will eventually be able to solve the problems of other people too. This is called 'sharing the right
understanding'.

It is
difficult to share right understanding with those who do not know how to
appreciate it. It is even more difficult
to work towards attaining this right understanding. Though this job is extremely difficult, it is
also extremely important, fulfilling and valuable.

It is very
important for everyone to continuously working towards attaining right
understanding for themselves as well as helping others who are facing same
issues as them.

In my
teaching and also in this process, there is no emphasis on 'people', 'who',
'I', 'you', etc but merely address to and solve the problems of
non-understanding.

By nature,
human beings incline to focus on 'people or beings' such as I understand, who
and who understands, I do not understand, who and who does not understand, etc
... placing central emphasis on 'people or being'. In reality, you even need to 'abandon placing
central emphasis on people or being' and it should only be 'understand' or 'do
not understand'.

You need to
understand my teachings well but do not grasp them tightly. Do not grasp to your understanding when you
understand my teachings. Likewise, do
not grasp to it when you do not understand my teachings. Try to remember the right understanding of 'using-only'
while trying to abandon the grasping.

If everybody
try to solve this issue unanimously, solving this issue will no longer be
challenging anymore.

First off
all, all the practicing yogis need to have correct understanding as far as
insight meditation is concerned. Erase
all traditional habits of interpreting insight meditation as 'doing'. Stop being contented on the traditional
abilities of 'doing this' and doing that' during practicing insight meditation.

One good news
is that, of lately, due to the fact that people have been practicing and
teaching insight meditation for so many years, they came to realise that the
method which they have been practicing for years are not so complete and
exhaustive. They have discovered many
shortfalls, gaps, realised rooms for improvement and an urgency to address to those
issues.

As long as
majority is participated in to address to those issues and close the gap, it
will even be easier for the majority to attain right understanding. As long as the majority attain right
understanding, the problem will no longer be a problem anymore.

The problem
still remains as a problem just because people still associate actions with
'I', 'you' and regard those actions as 'doing' ... e.g. I do not understand,
you also do not understand, I am facing difficulties, you are also facing
difficulties as well as doing or not doing, becoming someone or not ...

While you are
doing your actions, try to contemplate on the right understanding of
'abandoning' as well as 'abandon placing central emphasis on the actions'.

When you
experience strange, different and significant feelings during meditation,
contemplate on the right understanding of 'abandon placing central emphasis on
happening or not happening'.

When the pain
gets severe and becomes unbearable or when you start to experience peaceful and
serene feeling or when your feelings and sensations become significant and
obvious, try to contemplate on the right understanding of 'abandon placing
central emphasis on happening or not happening'. At the same time, try to abandon your mind
from placing central emphasis on those experiences.

Even when you
attain significant understanding or when you attain obvious wisdom, still try
to contemplate on the right understanding of 'abandon placing central emphasis
on understanding or not understanding'.
At the same time, you still need to abandon all your deeper
understandings and wisdom.

You
continuously need to do step-by-step 'abandoning' as your understanding, wisdom
and knowledge become deeper.

The key point
here is that ... try to abandon all your actions in your mind even while you
are doing those actions.

If you are
experiencing effects (results) due to the cause (efforts) that you had put in,
try to 'abandon paying central emphasis on those effects'.

When you
attain deeper understanding and wisdom, abandon paying attention on those
understanding and wisdom too.

By doing so,
your mind power of 'abandoning' will reach to the fullest (maximum) till there
is nothing left for you to abandon.

The key point
here is that you still have 'grasping' just because you do not have ability and
knowledge to abandon your grasping and attachment over I, you, myself, etc.

You still
have grasping such as my parents, my children in your mind just because you do
not have absolute courage for abandonment.

Your mind
grasp and attach to the parents as 'my parents' even though they are no longer
around or they had long passed away. It
is the proof that you do not have ability and knowledge to abandon your
grasping.

You have
anxiety over things just because you do not have absolute courage for any
loss. That is the reason why you always
have to worry over your life, your health, etc.

You worry
over understanding and not understanding dhamma teachings just because you
cannot accept the reality that you are incapable of comprehending dhamma
well. You cannot accept your
incapability just because you grasp understanding and understanding dhamma
tightly in your mind.

Why do you
have unnecessary worries? The answer is
simple ... just because you cannot afford to lose them or you cannot accept
loss gracefully. If you have absolute
dare for any loss, there is nothing to worry about.

By nature,
people do not have absolute dare for sacrifice.
That is the reason why people find life as problematic. Life becomes problematic just because people
are not willing to make sacrifices throughout their lives. This is the reason why people need to settle
their grievances at court. If people
have absolute dare for sacrifice, they do not have to lodge complaints or
resort to settle grievances over the court sessions or do not need to attempt
endless revenge against each other.

You are not
willing to sacrifice just because you cannot abandon your habit of centering
your attention over being good or bad.
The problems over being good or bad will no longer be problems for you
once you successfully 'abandon' them in your mind.

Just because
you cannot abandon your habit of placing central emphasis over 'happenings',
you are happy when good things happen but sad when bad things happen to you. No
matter how good or bad the situation is, it is still important for you to
abandon placing central emphasis on these goods and bads.

You have to
work towards attaining right understanding does not necessarily mean that you
have to purposely and intentionally work towards achieving right
understanding. You just need to have
right understanding in your mind at all times.

As long as
you have right understanding in your mind, you will gradually be able to
abandon placing central emphasis on those created actions.

On one hand,
try to do limitless good deeds continuously and on the other hand, try to have
right understanding in your mind at all times.

By doing so, soon
there is absolutely nothing left for you to abandon in your mind. Your mind will be able to abandon everything
and anything limitlessly.

No matter how
big or small the problem is, as long as you have the power of 'abandoning' in
your mind and not forgetting the right understanding, you can be able to solve
any problems with your power of right understanding.

By nature,
human being wish to have financial stability for their graying years though
there is no guarantee that they will live till their ripe old age. Due to their desire of having financial
stability, grasping happened. They fail
to detect their grasping and thus unable to abandon those grasping from their
mind.

They are
unable to abandon their perception of having financial stability for their
graying years just because they firmly grasp on their created perceptions of
having sound financial stability is crucial for life, one cannot survive
without money, one need to be in good health and etc.

The truth and
reality is that you need to abandon everything till there is nothing left for
you to abandon, to endure the loss till there is nothing left for you to lose
and to sacrifice till there is nothing left for you to sacrifice. These are the ultimate goals which you always
need to keep in your mind as well as to practice till perfection.

You place
central emphasis on having or not having, must have this and that, cannot live
without this and that just because you do not have these right understandings
in mind.

As long as
you diligently work towards achieving right understanding and at the same time,
try not to grasp anything in your mind, you will no longer face any problems in
future.

As long as
there are grasping in your mind, you will definitely need to worry over the
issues and things which you grasp so tightly.

You cannot
accept death just because you take life as reality and grasp it tightly in your
mind.

You worry
over your worldly possessions just because you take them as reality and grasp
them tightly in your mind.

You worry
over your reputation or fame just because you take them as reality and grasp
them tightly in your mind.

These are
merely created perceptions and thus you should not grasp them and take them as
reality. They are just to be used-only
and thus try to abandon placing central emphasis on them in your mind.

You always
need to remember and contemplate on the created nature of those created things,
created possessions and created understandings, which are to be abandoned only
and lose only.

Since you are
part of the human society, you might face grievances such as good or bad
experiences, fair or unfair treatments, etc as they are unavoidable. So long as you have absolute dare for
limitless sacrifice in your mind, you can contemplate on these problems as just
to be experienced-only and avoid placing central emphasis on them as problems.

As your power
of right understanding becomes stronger and solid, you will gradually be able
to abandon all the actions of your mind till there is nothing left for you to
abandon and hence your power of abandoning, ability to withstand loss and power
of sacrifice will reach to the fullest (maximum).

You will then
know and be able to use your life as to be 'used-only', time, place and
experiences as to be 'experienced-only'.
As such, you will find life as very precious and fulfilling.

Everything
becomes useful as long as you know how to use them as 'use-only'. This is the 'right understanding', 'right
value', 'right wisdom' and 'right jewel' of life.

Daily activities to participate ….

ThaBarWa Centre or ThaBarWa Yeiktha is an ideal place for learning and practicing meditation as well as for helping others who have physical and mental limitations and difficulties.

Our center takes care of everybody, regardless of age, race and religion, who cannot support themselves and survive on their own due to various reasons and at the same time teaching them how to meditate and purify their mind.

The population of our centre is more than 2,500. By staying at our centre, you will have plenty of chances to experience and participate in the following activities …

1. Following the monks in their daily alms rounds and helping in distributing the alms food to infirm, old folks and meditators.

2. Taking care of and assisting infirm or old folks with their chores.

3. Visiting branches of ThaBarWa Centres (across Myanmar).

4. Learning Burmese culture and the people.

5. Attending insight meditation session and classes.

6. Helping in the kitchen, cooking and distributing food.

7. Helping in the health care, in the clinics and wards.

8. Helping in the library.

9. Assisting Venerable with management, IT and technology.

10. Visiting the mercy villages which were established (by ThaBarWa) for homeless and needy families and individuals.

11. Sharing your language, IT and technology knowledge and expertise with adults and Children of our centre.

Sayadaw Ashin Ottamasara

Please click the photo to visit Sayadaw's facebook

Biography

Sayadaw Ashin Uttamasara was born in Katha, Sagaing Division, Myanmar on Sunday 26th October 1969.

Since his youth he placed full value on education. He passed Matriculation in 1986 with flying colors. After completing a B.A (English, Honors) from the University of Yangon in 1992, he became a young entrepreneur and successful businessman within a short period of time.

Faced with difficulties and frustrations in running a complex business for 7 years, he sought refuge in the Dhamma in 1999. With the help of a Dhamma friend, he entered the Mogok Meditation Centre at Insein Monastery for a five-day meditation retreat, becoming initiated in Dhamma contemplation and practice.

From February 1999 to January 2002 he deeply concentrated on meditation. He became so devoted to Dhamma that he was able to reduce his business calmly, without much attachment.

For the propagation of Dhamma he donated all the assets he had accumulated during 6 years of entrepreneurship. He then concentrated on charity, morality and insight contemplation to find the perfect Truth.

In 2002, he was ordained in Yangon by Sayadaw U Nayyasagara and started to teach Vipassana Insight Meditation.

Today, Sayadaw teaches Dhamma and Guided Vipassana Insight Meditation in various institutions, schools, hospitals and individual residences in Myanmar and other countries.

Sayadaw remains a well-known name throughout the shores of Myanmar and beyond.

Thabarwa is a place for everyone!!

Thabarwa Center is a non-profit humanitarian organization working for a noble cause.

We provide a home sweet home for everybody (both for locals and foreigners alike), unconditionally.

We open 24 hours a day, seven days a week without recess.

The activities of Sayadaw Ashin Uttamasara and Thabarwa Center are wide and various, serving the spiritual and physical needs of thousands from far and near.

More and more visitors from all over Myanmar and abroad are coming daily to visit, learn meditation and volunteer their skills and time in caring for those taking refuge at Thabarwa Center.

Good deeds at Thabarwa

• Providing refuge not only for meditators but also for the old aged, homeless, orphans, loners, infirm and the people with physical and mental difficulties.

• Currently more than 2,500 people (as of October 2015) taking refuge at our centre.

• Providing health care, food, clothing, shelter, clean water for cooking and drinking, etc. and offering aids and support for free of charge.

• Solving day to day problems of centre residents, meditators, volunteers and visitors.

• Communicating and cooperating with volunteers, charities, non-profit organizations and philanthropists from Myanmar and abroad.

• Conducting daily Vipassana Insight Meditation and Dhamma Talks.

• Conducting retreats in the traditions of renowned vipassana meditation masters. All the meditation methods are being utilized without attachment to any particular method.